Popcorn machine with canopy

Abstract

A device for making popcorn. A heating element and a fan are contained within a base housing. The base housing includes an agitator and convection unit unit having a bottom and a side portion located above the heating element and fan. The side portion includes louvers configured to allow heated air provided by operation of the heating element and fan to circulate around the agitator and convection unit and cause corn kernels added to the agitator and convection unit to be heated so as to form popcorn. A bowl surrounds the base housing such that the base housing, agitator and convection unit and bowl have a common axis. A canopy is removably mated to the base housing and is configured so that when popcorn is expelled from the agitator and convection unit, it strikes a bottom surface of the canopy and is guided into the bowl.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for making popcorn comprising:
 a) a heating element and a fan disposed within a base housing of the device; 
 b) an agitator and convection unit disposed within said base housing, said agitator and convection unit disposed above said heating element and fan, said agitator and convection unit having a bottom and a side portion extending from said bottom, said side portion including louvers configured to allow heated air provided by operation of said heating element and fan to circulate around said agitator and convection unit and cause corn kernels when added to said agitator and convection unit to be heated so as to form popcorn which is expelled from said agitator and convection unit as said popcorn is formed; 
 c) a bowl having an outer wall and an inner wall in contact with and configured to surround said base housing wherein when said bowl is placed over said base housing, said base housing, said agitator and convection unit and said bowl have a common axis; 
 d) a canopy removably and frictionally mated to said base housing and when mated to said base housing has a same axis as said common axis, wherein said canopy is configured so that said popcorn which is expelled from said agitator and convection unit strikes a bottom surface of said canopy and is guided into said bowl in a space between said outer wall and said inner wall, wherein said outer wall has a diameter larger than a diameter of said canopy, where said canopy diameter is measured across its largest extent, wherein when said canopy is frictionally removed from said base housing, a bottom portion of said canopy is separated from said base housing and rests on a top portion of said inner wall. 
 
     
     
       2. The device defined by  claim 1  wherein said agitator and convection unit is cup shaped. 
     
     
       3. The device defined by  claim 1  wherein said canopy includes a top portion, and a bottom portion with strips connecting said top portion and said bottom portion, said strips sized to form a space between said top portion and said bottom portion through which said popcorn passes into said bowl when expelled from said agitator and convection unit. 
     
     
       4. The device defined by  claim 3  wherein said top portion is dome shaped. 
     
     
       5. The device defined by  claim 3  wherein said bottom portion mates with a shoulder portion of said base housing.